Friday Night Lights: "Underdogs" Review

The penultimate episode of Season 3 made the future more clear for many characters.

Note: As NBC airs Friday Night Lights: Season 3, we're once more featuring the reviews written while the season had its original run on DirecTV. For this reason, the review may not reflect any subtle differences between the two versions.

Watching this episode made me feel very sad, as I realized that whether or not there is a fourth season of Friday Night Lights [Goldman says: A few months after I first wrote this, now we know there will be a fourth and fifth season!], we're likely one week from saying goodbye to many of these characters. It's a testament to how wonderful this show is that I feel like I really know Matt Saracen, Tim Riggins, Lyla Garrity and Tyra Collette, and will be sorry to no longer spend time with them.

There was plenty of drama to go around, much of it centered around the McCoys. Though reluctant to do so, Tami called Child Protective Services to report Joe hitting J.D. The result was upsetting to the entire McCoy family, because as horrible as Joe's actions had been, Katie and J.D. still felt protective for their family and angry over strangers coming into their house and threatening to take J.D. away – which is a sadly understandable reaction, as much as the blame for this falls squarely on Joe's abusive shoulders.

I began the episode annoyed at Landry, as Coach told him he would be playing in the State game – I know I've griped about it many times, but man, Landry should never have been made a Panther… And the entire season has had him benched, with no scenes showing him working hard or improving to warrant this last minute elevation during the most crucial game of all. Meanwhile, I was wary of his storyline helping Tyra with her college application essay… only for it to end up having a great payoff.

When Tyra said she let go of a lot of hate two years ago, and Landry asked why, I was ready to roll my eyes at her saying "I met you…" Instead, she said, "Jason Street was paralyzed", and wow did it pack a wallop. Evoking the gone but not forgotten Jason and the events of the pilot of the series was a great touch, showing how the past was important on this show. And it led to Tyra revealing all the other things that changed for her that year - events we lived with her. And yes, she did eventually say "I met you" to Landry as part of that list, but it didn't feel like a forced moment but rather a genuine connection she has with him, which we were reminded was one of several important relationships Tyra has forged, including those with Julie and Tami. By the time Landry and Tyra rekindled their romance, after she completed her essay, it was the most tender moment yet between these two characters, who have had a rocky road (to say the least) on their path to this point.

It was a bit odd to suddenly have Matt talking about going to an art school in Chicago (what about the one in San Francisco he'd been considering?), but the important thing was, it was looking likely he was going… only for his grandmother Lorraine to flat out tell him he couldn't leave her. This set up a lovely moment late in the episode between her and Julie, who admitted that despite her support of Matt, she didn't want to lose him either. It was clear Lorraine was probably going to stop holding Matt back, but it didn't mean it wasn't hard for her.

Tim Riggins wears Panther blue one last time

Little moments throughout the episode served as a reminder that so many of the characters are about to go off and begin their new lives. Lyla told Buddy she was going to school with Tim, and Buddy's apparent "what can you do?" acceptance of the situation rang true – this is clearly a guy who wants his daughter to be happy, and she made it clear Tim makes her happy. And a scene between Tim and Matt, walking through Austin while discussing their futures, really hit home how things were about to change forever for them.

Very notably, the big final game occurred this episode – with one episode still left this season. Those who've always felt this show didn't have enough football might think "it figures the finale won't even be about the big game", but I think it's dramatically the right choice. This episode was about setting up a lot of characters moving on, and now we get the chance to properly say goodbye next time.

As for the game, I really liked how it turned out. I kind of figured the Panthers might lose this one, having won in Season 1, but it felt appropriate how it happened. What was very well done was how J.D. could be seen as one of the reasons they lost, yet it wasn't for anything you could hate him for – this kid was dealing with the aftermath of his beloved father hitting him, and was angry and emotional and in no state to play the game.

Matt getting to play quarterback one last time was nice to see, even as it was pretty clear this was something Eric had to do in the situation due to J.D.'s emotions at that point, as it's fairly obvious by now that J.D. is the superior natural athlete. At the same time, J.D. got to show his own team spirit, coming out and joining his teammates in the final moments, even though he was angry what had transpired. The visual of the Panthers linking hands as they watched their opponents go for the kick that would have them lose the game evoked a similar moment in the Friday Night Lights movie, and was just as powerful here. Yes, the Panthers lost the game by one point, but leave it to Eric Taylor to give a truly inspiring speech to them about how incredibly proud he was of them, which was impossible to doubt - as always, Kyle Chandler expertly sold every sentiment Eric expressed.

There are a few things I'm just assuming will be solidified in the finale, including the fact that Matt and Tyra will be free to go to college next year. That's okay, as this is a show not based around big plot twists and turns, but rather observing life and realistically portraying a group of people in a specific place and time. And wow, does Friday Night Lights do this better than almost any show on TV.

Oh, and lastly: kudos to whoever came up with the idea of having some fun by placing an X-Men comic book in the bedroom of the future Gambit himself, Tim Riggins.